Culture · Melli
Walk across the Teesta from Bengal into Sikkim
A short walk over the bridge that joins Melli Bazaar in West Bengal to Melli in Sikkim, with the Teesta below and the two markets at either end. A small, real-world lesson in how Sikkim's border works, and a good leg-stretch on a long drive.
Melli is one of the few Indian towns split between two states. Melli Bazaar, on NH10, belongs to Kalimpong district of West Bengal; Melli across the river belongs to Namchi district of Sikkim. The Jawaharlal Nehru Bridge joins them, and Wikipedia describes it as the second-longest bridge in Sikkim.
Ask your driver to drop you at one end and meet you at the other. From the middle of the bridge you see the Teesta's broad green channel in winter, the forested hills of both states, and the stream of jeeps and trucks crossing into Sikkim. Near the Sikkim end is the check post where travellers enter the state.
Keep to the footpath, watch for traffic and do not photograph check post staff or security installations. Foreigners should carry their Sikkim RAP. Combine the walk with tea and momos in either market. In the monsoon, admire the river from a safe distance: it rises fast and the banks are unstable.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is Melli in Sikkim or West Bengal?
Both. Melli Bazaar, on NH10, is in Kalimpong district of West Bengal, and Melli across the Teesta is in Namchi district of Sikkim. A road bridge connects them. Travellers for South and West Sikkim cross here; traffic for Gangtok usually stays on NH10 towards Rangpo.
Do we need ID to cross the Melli bridge?
Carry photo ID. Indian travellers usually pass the Sikkim check post with little formality, though checks vary. Foreign nationals must show their Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied for online on the e-FRRO portal since January 2026. Check current status before you travel.
Can we photograph the bridge?
Photographs of the river and the view are generally fine. Avoid photographing check post staff, police or security installations, and be discreet around official buildings. If anyone asks you not to take a photograph, put the camera away politely. Do not stop vehicles on the bridge for photographs.
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